GalakStarscraper wrote:I played several Side Step teams in PBeM leagues and very very rarely found that it picked a square that I would not have picked myself with that tiered logic. (just realized looking it back over that steps 2 and 3 are the same ... sorry). The one item I missed was that if the player was holding the ball and there was a tie in any step than if a square was closer to the scoring endzone it was picked.
I've rarely used the skill, myself, and I just realized that my original default rules were based on the normal 3 square option while side step allows for the choice of any adjacent square. Given that you guys played many games using the algorithm you specified and no heads exploded I'd say the best idea is to stick with it rather than re-invent the wheel. I'm actually pretty stoked that this is a problem that someone already solved!
GalakStarscraper wrote:I also automated the interception roll. If I remember correctly that one was pretty straightforward.
1) Pick the player with the best roll
2) In case of ties for #1, pick the player not in any opposing Tackle zones
3) In case of ties for #2, pick the player closest to the end zone he would score in
4) Random if ties still at #3
That seems to support what Vanguard was suggesting. I like this method as it's not only a tested method, but has less player-facing complexity than a per-player toggle.
GalakStarscraper wrote:Because I wrote most of the rules code in the PBeM tool ... PLEASE feel free to pick my brain on anything that comes up.
I will absolutely do so. I'm relieved that the existing PBEM tool took this approach as it's much easier to follow a pre-blazed path, and these automated rules were the one thing I was most ambivalent about.
GalakStarscraper wrote:The PBeM tool is unfortunately dying. The SQL systems that keep track of the leagues are getting out of date for their coding the the tool itself cannot be updated as it was written in a version of Delphi that Windows no longer supports (and Delphi is just not a code language sitting on too many machines to being with).
Delphi 7 still works under Windows 10 even if the OS warns you otherwise - I have D7 and DXE7 on this machine (10 versions apart though their names don't show it) - but it's true, very few people (especially in the english-speaking world) use delphi. Pretty popular in russia and the former yugoslavian countries, though, for all the good that does anyone.
GalakStarscraper wrote:In fact ... if it would help ... I will send you the source code for the PBeM program which was last updated in 2005. It is pretty well documented and you could then copy the logic over for things like Side Step and modify them.
If you guys automated all the skills then that'd be great. I'm also quite experienced with Delphi, so understanding the code shouldn't be an issue.
Darkson wrote:If I recall it correctly, you could, after your turn but before you sent it to your opponent, pre-select 1 or 2 squares where you'd prefer to be pushed which the tool would default to (assuming they weren't already being used by a player).
Not sure whether you implement something similar, at least for use with the PBeM game?
Did that function get used much? I mean, almost anything CAN be implemented, it's just a question of value vs. complexity. I know people always feel more options are better, but in terms of user experience... for anything but expert users you want to limit the options to prevent people from being overwhelmed. If its a function that got used by PBEM players enough that they'd miss it then optionally setting a preferred sidestep square to use during your own turn wouldn't be too bad to add.
I'm hoping to have things be consistent regardless of whether the game is being played realtime or otherwise. Optimally it will allow for both types of play in the same league, or even to go between the types of play during the same match (eg, if someone has to stop playing realtime, but wants to finish the match, you can both switch to staggered turn play... or return to realtime play if you're both available for it at a later time).